Hydrogen Combustor Nozzle Vortex Generators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of hydrogen fuel in gas turbine engines can lead to premature ignition, flashback in nozzles, and the production of nitrogen oxides due to inadequate mixing with compressed air.
Innovation Solution
A combustor nozzle with fluid vortex generators, such as wedge-shaped or three-dimensional triangular members, is used to enhance turbulence in the compressed air flow, ensuring thorough mixing with hydrogen fuel before combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen fuel is used to reduce carbon dioxide emission, then environmental performance is improved, but premature ignition and flashback occur due to inadequate mixing with compressed air
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple segments with separate air inlet and fuel inlet openings, allowing independent control of air and fuel flow. This segmentation enables precise mixing control to prevent premature ignition while maintaining combustion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A mixing tube is introduced as an intermediary component between the air inlet and fuel inlet. The mixing tube facilitates thorough mixing of compressed air and hydrogen fuel before combustion, preventing flashback while maintaining the environmental benefits of hydrogen fuel.
2Device complexity
If hydrogen fuel is introduced without thorough mixing with compressed air, then fuel injection simplicity is maintained, but flashback and inefficient combustion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet opening and fuel inlet opening are merged into a single nozzle structure with integrated mixing capability. This combining approach maintains relative simplicity while achieving thorough mixing through the integrated design of the mixing tube and inlet openings.
3Device complexity
If compressed air and hydrogen fuel are not thoroughly mixed, then nozzle structure simplicity is maintained, but nitrogen oxide production increases due to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tube serves as an intermediary that promotes thorough mixing of compressed air and hydrogen fuel before combustion. This prevents localized overheating and subsequent nitrogen oxide formation, while the mixing tube itself remains a relatively simple structural addition.
4Stability of the object's composition
If fluid vortex generators are added to enhance mixing, then combustion uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tube is designed with a curved inner surface that guides fluid flow and enhances mixing through curvature-induced turbulence. This curved geometry achieves effective mixing without requiring complex internal components, maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables uniform combustion, reduces the incidence of flashback and nitrogen oxide production, and improves the overall efficiency and reliability of gas turbine engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
the compressed air encounters the one or more fluid vortex generators which causes the compressed air to swirl inside the nozzle resulting in an increase of turbulence in the flow of the compressed air
Implementation Method 2
one or more fluid vortex generators in the form of wedge-shaped or three dimensional triangular shaped members are disposed
Implementation Method 3
The swirling or turbulent air acts on the introduced fuel and causes the introduced fuel to be thoroughly mixed with the compressed air so that the fuel/air mixture will be combusted in a uniform manner
Implementation Method 4
The combustor mixes the compressed air flowing thereinto from the compressor with fuel and burns a mixture thereof to generate high pressure and high temperature combustion gas
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a nozzle for a combustor that burns fuel containing hydrogen. The nozzle comprised of a cylindrical tube is configured for introduction of a first fluid (for example, compressed air) and a second fluid (for example, hydrogen or a fuel containing hydrogen). Along an inner surface of the nozzle, one or more fluid vortex generators are disposed. As compressed air flows over the one or more fluid vortex generators, the compressed air swirls inside the nozzle resulting in a turbulent flow of the compressed air. As fuel is then introduced into the nozzle, the fuel encounters the swirling or turbulent flow of compressed air, and the introduced fuel is thoroughly mixed with the compressed air so that the fuel/air mixture will be combusted in a uniform manner. The nozzle may be included in a combustor of a gas turbine engine.